This volume investigates the formative years and personal development of the poet Wilfred Owen, focusing on his transition from an obscure youth to a significant literary figure. Harold Owen, the poet's brother, utilizes family correspondence, personal recollections, and archival materials to construct a detailed biographical account. The text argues that Wilfred's early experiences and family environment were the primary catalysts for his later poetic output and his eventual confrontation with the realities of the Great War.

Scholars and literary historians frequently cite this work as a vital primary source for understanding the personal life of Wilfred Owen. Readers often note the intimate, subjective nature of the prose, which provides a unique perspective unavailable in more detached academic biographies.